It’s been 6 months since the Federal minimum wage was raised. I know that is not long enough to judge how it has helped the poor lift themselves out of poverty, but it certainly hasn’t been a good start. It’s impossible to isolate the cause and effect, but the fact is that unemployment has increased since July. Listening to politicians who promise that raising the minimum wage will help solve the problems of income and wealth inequality is not a good solution. As time goes by and as the recession mounts, the poor will be hit the hardest - that much is certain. The minimum wage increases will not be helpful.